Manpower Services Commission (Hansard, 16 January 1980)

§ Mr. Jim Lester

[pursuant to his reply, 14 January 1980]: The Manpower Services Commission has submitted to me its corporate plan 1980–84. This contains details of how the proposed reduction in its staffing levels might be achieved, and the MSC's proposals are summarised below. These proposals are subject to approval by the Secretary of State and he will be discussing them with the commission.

In formulating its plans, I understand from the commission that it has adopted three main priorities: safeguarding the provision of skilled manpower, increasing opportunities for training and work experience for young people, and providing a completely modern employment service. The commission, however, considers that, in consequence of the staff reductions, some reductions in present levels of service are inescapable.

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Under the corporate plan proposals, the number of posts in the commission's employment service division would fall by 2,006 in the next two to three years. This would include a reduction of 433 posts in the general placing service, allowing for the effects of the capital computer development and the computerisation of unemployment and vacancy statistics. Smaller reductions in the division's other services and 512 posts saved in recruitment, staff training and reduction in service.

The training services division would save 1,109 posts. 520 of these would be in the skill centre network, the rationalisation of which is now being considered by the commission. 245 posts would be saved as a result of reductions in clerical, commercial and other non-skillcentre training. 344 posts would be saved in overall head office and regional staff. Numbers trained under the training opportunities scheme would fall from over 70,000 to about 60,000 a year.

The special programmes division would save 100 posts, and the commission's support services would save 185 posts.